Seyi Tinubu, son of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has refuted viral reports suggesting he was denied the opportunity to greet Pope Leo XIV during the pope’s inauguration ceremony in Rome.
A video circulated widely on social media appeared to show Seyi attempting to approach the pope, only to be redirected by Vatican security personnel. The clip sparked speculation that the pope’s team “snubbed” or “bounced” him, fueling online controversy.
In response, Seyi Tinubu took to his Instagram Story on Monday, reposting the viral video with the caption:
“Fake News!!!”
— dismissing the claims as false and misleading.
While the video shows a moment of redirection, no official statement from the Vatican indicates that Seyi was intentionally blocked from meeting Pope Leo XIV. Many observers have noted that the security personnel likely enforced standard crowd control protocols during the high-profile event, which drew thousands to St. Peter’s Square.
Seyi was in Rome as part of the Nigerian delegation accompanying his father, President Bola Tinubu, who attended Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration Mass on Sunday.
Following the ceremony, President Tinubu congratulated the newly elected pontiff, describing his emergence as a “new chapter” for the Catholic Church. He also expressed optimism about continued collaboration between Nigeria and the Vatican on matters of global peace, interfaith dialogue, and social development.
